692 research outputs found
Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926
No full textDronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.
Pronoprymna pyriformis Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. comb.
No full textPronoprymna pyriformis (Kumar & Agarwal, 1984) n. comb. Faustula pyriformis (see figs. 1A, B, C of Kumar & Agarwal 1984) is similar to species in the genus by having a generally elliptical (elongate-oval), spinose body form with tapering extremities forming bluntly pointed ends; symmetrical (side by side) testes located about the level of the ventral sucker, immediately anterior to and overlapping the level of the anterior aspect of it; a somewhat retort-shaped cirrus sac; a submedian genital pore; a posttesticular, submedian ovary; and a uterus that is largely posttesticular and mainly in the hindbody. Faustula pyriformis differs from species of Faustula by having the oral sucker notably smaller than the ventral sucker (120–140 wide vs 180– 190 wide); a trilobed ovary and vitelline follicles that are condensed into small compact groups composed of few follicles (5–8/side), which justifies placement of this species in Pronoprymna as Pronoprymna pyriformis (Kumar & Agarwal, 1984) n. comb. (Syn. F. pyriformis). We have noted in specimens of Faustula what we feel are subtle fixation-induced changes in the position of structures like the posterior extent of the cirrus sac relative to the ventral sucker and the placement of the ventral sucker relative to the intestinal bifurcation. In our opinion these potential fixation-induced anomalies may account for the unusual anterior (preacetabular) placement of the cirrus sac and the posterior placement of the ventral sucker described for P. pyriformis.Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2) on page 250, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/544829
Bacciger varanasiensis Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. comb.
No full text<i>Bacciger varanasiensis</i> (Agarwal & Kumar 1977) n. comb. <p> <i>Faustula varanasiensis</i> (see fig. 1 of Agarwal & Kumar 1977) was described by Agarwal & Kumar (1977) in <i>T</i>. <i>ilisha</i> from the Ganges River, Varanasi, India. It resembles species of <i>Faustula</i> by having a median to slightly submedian, genital pore located immediately posterior to the intestinal bifurcation; gonads that overlap the ventral sucker to some extent; a coiled seminal vesicle; vitelline fields that range from the level of the esophagus to the level of the posterior margins of the testes or more posteriorly and a uterus that reaches posterior beyond the testes, distributed mainly in the hindbody. However, this species differs from species of <i>Faustula</i> by having an oval body form with broadly truncated extremities <i>vs</i> the more typical elliptical body form that is more indicative of species of <i>Faustula</i>; testes located at the midlevel of the body and a submedian cirrus sac that extensively overlaps the level of the ventral sucker extending about the length of it into the intertesticular space and reaching the anterior margin of the ovary. It should be noted that this species is most similar to species of <i>Bacciger</i> and we propose this species be assigned to <i>Bacciger</i> as <i>Bacciger varanasiensis</i> (Agarwal & Kumar 1977) <b>n. comb.</b> However, the combination of characteristics displayed by this species, especially the unusually extensive posterior extent of the cirrus sac (extending well posterior to the ventral sucker), suggests that it may represent an undescribed genus.</p>Published as part of <i>Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2)</i> on page 250, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5448290">http://zenodo.org/record/5448290</a>
FIGURES 3–4 in Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926
No full textFIGURES 3–4. Diagrammatic illustrations of faustulids (ventral views): 3. Faustula brevichrus (Srivastava, 1935) Yamaguti, 1958 based on Srivastava (1935). 4. Fastula clupeae (Srivastava, 1935) Yamaguti, 1958 based on Srivastava (1935).Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2) on page 239, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/544829
Pronoprymna sayori Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. comb.
No full textPronoprymna sayori (Yamaguti, 1942) n. comb. Faustula sayori (Syn. Orientophorus sayori) described from the Japanese halfbeak, H. sajori, from Tutiura, Japan is similar to species of Faustula by having suckers that are about the same size; a cirrus sac that dorsally overreaches the ventral sucker and may surpass it posteriorly by a short distance; a posttesticular ovary and a uterus that is largely posttesticular filling most of the hindbody (see fig. 19 of Yamaguti 1942). However, this species is unlike species of Faustula by having a stout body form with a more broadly rounded posterior end; similar-sized, large suckers; a terminal, cup-shaped oral sucker; a cirrus sac that extensively overreaches the ventral sucker posteriorly, invading the intertesticular space to terminate near the level of the posterior margin of the testes; a bipartite seminal vesicle; symmetrical, postacetabular testes located near the midlevel of the body; an ovary that is trilobed; and vitelline fields that are condensed into 2 compact groups and confined to the lateral fields of the second one-fourth of the body. Based on these differences, especially the posttesticular trilobed ovary, the postacetabular placement of the side by side testes, the bipartite vs tubular seminal vesicle and the vitelline follicles being condensed into 2 compact groups that are posterolateral to the ventral sucker, we agree with Bray (2008) and more recently WoRMS (2021a) that F. sayori does not represent a species of Faustula. Bray and Gibson (1980) recommend that F. sayori be reassigned to Pronoprymna and synonymized it with P. petrowi (Layman, 1930) Bray & Gibson, 1980 (Syn. Monorcheides petrowi Layman, 1930). However, P. petrowi as originally described by Layman (1930) (see fig. 35 of Layman 1930) displays a number of characteristics, including the testes being located more posteriorly vs well anterior to the midlevel of the body; the presence of an entire vs a trilobed ovary; the cirrus sac terminating a short distance posterior to the ventral sucker vs extending posteriorly in to the intertesticular space to near the posterior margins of the testes; vitelline fields that are confined from the midlevel of the ventral sucker to the level of the anterior margin of the testes vs terminating more posteriorly about the midlevel of the testes and the presence of a unipartite saccate vs bipartite seminal vesicle that distinguish it from F. sayori (Syn. O. sayori) as described by Yamaguti (1942, 1958). We therefore recommend that F. sayori be considered a separate species from P. petrowi and be assigned to Pronoprymna as Pronoprymna sayori (Yamaguti, 1942) n. comb. In addition, Pronoprymna petrowi (Syn. Pentagramma petrowi [Layman 1930] Margolis & Ching, 1964) as described by Margolis & Ching (1964) and Pronoprymna petrowi as described by Shimazu (2018), for the present, should be maintained in Pronoprymna as P. sayori. However, based on the smaller size of the ventral sucker relative to the oral sucker it is likely that P. petrowi as described by Shimazu (2018) is a separate species from P. sayori. Until additional specimens and information are available concerning these 2 species, we have elected to support their synonymies with P. sayori.Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2) on page 249, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/544829
Implications of the Improvement of Teaching Quality for Professional Development (PD) of Academics at the Colleges of Applied Sciences (CASs) in the Sultanate of Oman
No full textThe Oman Accreditation Council (OAC), which is called later the Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA), designed a higher education institution (HEI) Quality Assurance (QA) framework for Omani public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), starting with a quality audit process in 2008. The Colleges of Applied Sciences (CASs), as a public HEI, are required to ensure the quality of all services and activities to meet particular national standards (specified in the framework) in order to gain a HEI and programme certificate. In line with a quality audit scope, the quality of the fields of PD and related teaching quality should be ensured and enhanced by the promotion and contribution of the former field to the maintenance and improvement of the latter one.
The chief purpose of this study was to identify the uptake and implications of the growing requirement to improve teaching quality and the PD of academics at the CASs in the Sultanate of Oman especially in the context of the application of the QA framework. The study focused on examining the academics’ participation in professional development programmes (PDPs) and current perceptions of PD with respect to the improvement of teaching quality improvement at these colleges. The current study also dealt with a reorganization and prioritization of academics’ PD needs, barriers to effective PD, and factors to enhance PD of academics regarding teaching quality improvement in the colleges.
Based on the purpose and research objectives, the current study adopted both positivist (quantitative) and interpretive (qualitative) research paradigms. Because the study perused quantitative and qualitative data regarding certain variables, it chose a mixed-research design. The researcher designed survey questionnaire to collect quantitative data and a semi-structured interview and a focus group discussion to probe and interpret quantitative findings. After fulfillment of the validity and reliability measurements, a self-completion questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of academics (170) over the six CASs. A total of 150 questionnaires (out of 170) were completed and returned and the response-rate reached 88.2%. The quantitative data was analyzed by appropriate analysis using the Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS), while the qualitative data was analyzed by appropriate qualitative analysis.
The findings of the study showed that the level of academics’ participation in PDPs to improve teaching quality in the last two years in the CASs seems to be unsatisfactorily low. The current perceptions of the PD situations in the colleges, relating to teaching quality improvement, signified a shortage in the number of available PDPs and/or a discouragement of academics’ participation in these programmes in the last two years. The study also revealed all the 22 PD needs of academics regarding the improvement of teaching quality are significantly demanded by participants; the higher rated needs focused on a development of ‘student centred’ skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the study illustrated that the highest significant perceived barriers to effective PD in the CASs, as related to teaching quality improvement, focus on a lack of a clear institutional PD policy and a lack of appropriately systematic PD plans. The study also revealed all 10 perceived factors to enhance PD regarding teaching quality improvement are very important. The most significant factors represented and stressed particular problematic issues (the high rated barriers) and a reduction of a heavy workload to enhance academics’ participation in PD regarding the improvement of teaching quality.
Conclusions drawn from the discussion of the findings of study include a lack of a clear PD policy at national and institutional levels and absence of a particular authority/unit concerning PD issues in Omani HEIs. The two problematic issues resulted in a lack of systematic and realistic PD plans in the CASs, involving a lack of academics’ involvement in PD plans, a misconnection of academics’ PD needs to PD, inappropriate facilities and resources allocation, and inappropriate evaluation processes of PD. In addition, the conclusions also include that PD of academics regarding the improvement of teaching quality in the colleges requires more attention and focus to manage particular significant issues perceived by participants as both barriers and potential facilitators relating to PD of academics.
Based on identified conclusions, particular implications for policy and practice to enhance PD to improve teaching quality were set at three levels: governmental, institutional, and individual. Moreover, achievements of the current study according to the research questions were identified and contributions of the study to the fields of PD, teaching quality, and the context of QA and quality audit in HE were addressed. Based on the findings and conclusions, particular directions and recommended issues were suggested to be studied by further research to benefit the enhancement of PD and related teaching quality improvement
Gangafaustula Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. gen.
No full text<i>Gangafaustula</i> n. gen. <p>(Fig. 8)</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Gangafaustula makundai</i> (Agarwal & Verma, 1981) <b>n. comb.</b> Type and only species.</p> <p> (Syn. <i>Faustula makundai</i> Agarwal & Verma, 1981)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis:</b> Body small, broadly elliptical to somewhat pyriform; anterior extremity markedly tapered to form relatively narrow end; posterior extremity more broadly tapered to form a bluntly pointed end; tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker muscular, globose, somewhat subterminal. Ventral sucker muscular, globose, near midlevel of body, slightly smaller than oral sucker. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx elliptical (elongate-spherical), muscular. Esophagus relatively short. Intestinal bifurcation about midway between suckers. Ceca short, terminate posterior to midlevel of body. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical, near midlevel of body; anterior extent may overlap midlevel of anterior aspect of ventral sucker. Cirrus sac claviform to retort-shaped, anterior one-third proceeds across body from about level of anterior one-third of left cecum to about midline of body, curves posteriorly and slightly overlaps right margin of ventral sucker, terminates about level of posterior margin of ventral sucker or slightly more posteriorly; sac encloses short, narrow ejaculatory duct, modest tubular pars prostatica and relatively large, saccate, naked (not surrounded by glandular cells) seminal vesicle; no large glandular cells apparent around pars prostatica or upper aspect of seminal vesicle. Genital pore immediately postbifurcal, distinctly submedian, sinistral, opens just short of midway between midline of body and body wall. Ovary with 4 lobes, median, anterior one-half occupies about posterior one-third of intertesticular space. Seminal receptacle immediately posterolateral of ovary. Uterus largely posterior to gonads, filling most of posttesticular space. Vitellarium composed of few (approximately 6–10), relatively large follicles linearly organized near lateral margins of body from about level of posterior margin of intestinal bifurcation nearly to posterior margin of testes. Eggs small, operculated. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore nearly terminal. Reported as intestinal parasite of species of clupeid fishes in the Ganges River (River Ganga), India.</p> <p> <b>Etymology:</b> The genus is named after the river in India where the type species was originally collected (“ <i>Ganga</i> ”) and its probable assignment within the faustulid trematodes (<i>Faustula</i>).</p> <p> <b>Remarks:</b> <i>Gangafaustula makundai</i> is similar to species of <i>Faustula</i> by having ceca that are relatively short, terminating at about the level of the posterior margin of the testes or slightly more posterior; a submedian, claviform cirrus sac that lies along the left margin of the ventral sucker, sometimes overlapping it to some extent dorsally and terminating at about the level of the posterior margin of the sucker; symmetrical testes that overlap the posterior end of the ventral sucker laterally to some extent; a median or nearly so, lobed ovary that is primarily posttesticular, but that may extend anteriorly into the posterior aspect of the intertesticular space to some extent and a uterus that is largely posttesticular and mainly in the hindbody. <i>Gangafaustula makundai</i> differs from species of <i>Faustula</i> by having the ventral sucker somewhat smaller than the oral sucker and more posteriorly positioned about the midlevel of the body; a simple saccate seminal vesicle where large glandular cells are not apparent in the cirrus sac <i>vs</i> a winding tubular seminal vesicle that is at least partially embedded in large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian genital pore; few (6–10/ side), large vitelline follicles that are linearly arranged in the lateral fields, 1 line on each side of the body and restricted to the region from the level of the posterior margin of the intestinal bifurcation to near the level of the posterior margin of the testes <i>vs</i> follicles being relatively small, more numerous and arranged in compact masses where their anterior extent surpasses the intestinal bifurcation anteriorly being distributed from about the midlevel of the esophagus to the anterior aspect of the posttesticular space of the hindbody or more posteriorly; gonads that are located posterior to the midlevel of the body and an ovary with 4 lobes <i>vs</i> 8 or more lobes as seen in species in the genus (e.g., <i>F</i>. <i>basiri</i>, <i>F</i>. <i>brevichrus</i>, <i>F</i>. <i>keksooni</i>).</p>Published as part of <i>Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2)</i> on pages 244-245, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5448290">http://zenodo.org/record/5448290</a>
Varanasifaustula Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. gen.
No full text<i>Varanasifaustula</i> n. gen. <p>(Fig. 10)</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Varanasifaustula indica</i> (Agarwal & Verma, 1981) <b>n. comb.</b> Type and only species.</p> <p> (Syn. <i>Faustula indica</i> Agarwal & Verma, 1981)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis:</b> Body small, somewhat elliptical, extremities tapered to form bluntly pointed ends; tegumental spines not reported. Oral sucker, globose, slightly subterminal. Ventral sucker muscular, globose, anterior to midlevel of body, larger than oral sucker. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx oval, nearly circular, muscular. Esophagus relatively short. Intestinal bifurcation about half way between suckers. Ceca relatively short, terminate slightly anterior to midlevel of body. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical, near midlevel of body; anterior extent may overlap posterior margin of ventral sucker dorsally almost to its midlevel. Cirrus sac clavate, overlaps ventral sucker dorsally, may surpass it posteriorly by short distance; sac encloses cirrus, narrow ejaculatory duct, short tubular pars prostatica, relatively long, saccate, naked seminal vesicle. Genital pore at about level of posterior margin of intestinal bifurcation, distinctly submedian, extracecal, immediately left of left cecum. Ovary with 6 lobes, immediately posttesticular or slightly more anterior, near midline of body to slightly submedian. Seminal receptacle described as absent. Uterus largely posterior to gonads, filling most of posttesticular space. Vitellarium composed of few, relatively large follicles (approximately 5–7/side); follicles linearly organized near lateral margins of body from about midlevel of ceca to level of posterior margin of testes or slightly more posterior. Eggs small, operculate. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore slightly subterminal. Reported as intestinal parasite of species of clupeid fishes in the Ganges River, India.</p> <p> <b>Etymology:</b> The genus is named from the location where the type species was collected in India (<i>Varanasi</i>) and its probable assignment within the faustulid trematodes (<i>Faustula</i>).</p> <p> <b>Remarks:</b> <i>Varanasifaustula indica</i> (Syn. <i>F</i>. <i>indica</i>) differs from species of <i>Faustula</i> by having a simple cirrus; a narrow ejaculatory duct; a tubular pars prostatica and a simple, saccate, unipartite, naked seminal vesicle <i>vs</i> a winding tubular seminal vesicle that is at least partially embedded in large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian, extracecal genital pore; few (5–7/side), relatively large vitelline follicles somewhat longitudinally arranged along the lateral fields of the body from about the midlevel of the ceca to the level of the posterior margin of the testes <i>vs</i> smaller more numerous follicles that range from some distance posterior to the level of the intestinal bifurcation, posteriorly to about the level of the ovary or slightly more anterior; the gonads located near the midlevel of the body and a median ovary with 6 lobes <i>vs</i> 8 or more lobes as seen in species in <i>Faustula</i>. Note the illustration representing <i>F</i>. <i>indica</i> (= <i>V</i>. <i>indica</i>) in the original description by Agarwal & Verma (1981) (see fig. 2) is identified as a ventral view, but the location of the cirrus sac and vitelline follicles relative to the ceca, and the ventral sucker relative to the testes and cirrus sac suggest it is a dorsal view. It appears that the specimen illustrated in fig. 2 was rolled so that the structures more closely associated with the dorsal aspect of the body (e.g., posterior aspect of the cirrus sac, gonads) were displaced to the right while structures more closely associated with the ventral surface (e.g., ventral sucker, genital pore) may have been displaced to the left. It is our opinion that the cirrus sac in this species likely more extensively overlaps the ventral sucker, but that the position of the genital pore was not appreciably altered. <i>Varanasifaustul</i> a <i>indica</i> (Syn. <i>F</i>. <i>indica</i>) is somewhat similar to <i>L</i>. <i>hilsai</i> discussed above, most notably by having 6 ovarian lobes <i>vs</i> 5–6 ovarian lobes in <i>L</i>. <i>hilsai</i> (see description and Fig. 2A of Kumar &Agarwal 1984). <i>Lingulitrema hilsai</i> also differs from <i>V</i>. <i>indica</i> by having longer ceca that surpass the testes for some distance posteriorly, reaching about the midlevel of the ovary; an S-shaped seminal vesicle that lacks large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian genital pore that approaches the cecum and small, more numerous vitelline follicles forming more extensive vitelline fields that extend from the midlevel of the esophagus posteriorly to about the level of the ovary.</p> <p>The following key to genera within the Faustulidae was developed to accomomodate both previous genera and the 5 new genera proposed herein.</p>Published as part of <i>Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2)</i> on pages 247-248, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5448290">http://zenodo.org/record/5448290</a>
Gobifaustula Dronen & Blend & Mohammed & Bannai 2021, n. gen.
No full text<i>Gobifaustula</i> n. gen. <p>(Fig. 6)</p> <p> <b>Type species:</b> <i>Gobifaustula qikouensis</i> (Qiu & Li in Shen & Qiu, 1995) <b>n. comb.</b> Type and only species.</p> <p> (Syn. <i>Faustula qikouensis</i> Qiu & Li in Shen & Qiu, 1995)</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis:</b> Body small, somewhat pyriform (see fig. 26 of Qiu & Li 1995 in Shen & Qiu 1995); tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker subterminal, muscular, nearly circular, somewhat globular. Ventral sucker muscular, larger than oral sucker, located well anterior to midlevel of body. Prepharynx short to absent. Pharynx small, oval, muscular. Esophagus, simple, relatively long. Intestinal bifurcation largely in forebody immediately anterior to ventral sucker which may overlap posterior aspect of bifurcation and located well anterior to midlevel of body. Ceca relatively short, terminate about midlevel of body. Testes 2, spherical, entire, symmetrical, contiguous on midline of body, located near midlevel of hindbody. Cirrus sac claviform, surpasses ventral sucker posteriorly by short distance; seminal vesicle originally described as saccular but may be bipartite (see fig. 26 of original description by Qiu & Li 1995), occupies slightly more than one-half of cirrus sac; details of cirrus, ejaculatory duct, pars prostatica unknown. Genital pore median or nearly so, immediately anterior to ventral sucker at juncture of esophagus and intestinal bifurcation. Genital atrium unknown. Ovary pretesticular, intercecal, trilobed in form of triangle, located immediately right of and contiguous with left cecum, occupies area from about midlevel of cecum posteriorly to short distance anterior to level of cecal ends. Laurer’s canal unknown. Seminal receptacle contiguous with posterior end of and nestled between posterior 2 lobes of ovary. Vitelline follicles distributed in 2 clusters, 1 on each side of body from about midlevel of ceca or anterior margin of ovary to cecal ends. Uterus occupying bulk of posttesticular space, extends from level of testes to near posterior extremity. Eggs numerous, small, operculate. Excretory vesicle and extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore terminal to somewhat dorsally located. Reported as intestinal parasites of gobiid fishes in freshwater tributaries entering the Yellow Sea.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>: The genus is named based on the type of fish (goby; Latin <i>gobio</i>) infected by <i>Gobifaustula qikouensis</i> and its similarities to members of the Faustulidae (<i>Faustula</i>).</p> <p> <b>Remarks:</b> <i>Faustula qikouensis</i> (= <i>G</i>. <i>qikouensis</i>) was described from the Asian freshwater goby, <i>S. ommaturus</i> (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from near the mouth of a river that opens into the Bo-Hai Sea (considered to be the more inland portions of the Yellow Sea of China). It is similar to species of <i>Faustula</i> by having relatively small suckers where the ventral sucker is slightly larger than the oral sucker; gonads that are in the hindbody; a uterus that reaches posterior beyond the testes, mainly concentrated in the hindbody; a median to slightly submedian genital pore; a cirrus sac that overreaches the ventral sucker, surpassing it by a short distance posteriorly and a ventral sucker that is not close to the posterior extremity (located near the posterior aspect of the anterior one-third of body). It differs from species of <i>Faustula</i> by having a somewhat pyriform, aspinose body that is markedly tapered anteriorly and broadly rounded posteriorly; a ventral sucker that overlaps the intestinal bifurcation anteriorly; a relatively long hindbody (approximately 60% of the body length); side by side, contiguous testes that are located near the midlevel of the hindbody well posterior to the ventral sucker; a genital pore opening anterior to the intestinal bifurcation near the posterior end of the esophagus; a cirrus sac that encloses a bipartite seminal vesicle; vitelline fields that are in 2 clusters composed of relatively few follicles (6–7/side) that are confined to the middle one-third on each side of the body and a pretesticular, trilobed ovary. Bray (2008 b) suggested that this species does not belong in <i>Faustula</i> and probably should be transferred to <i>Bacciger</i> Nicoll, 1914; however, only species of <i>Allofellodistomum</i> Yamaguti, 1971; <i>Baccigeroides</i> Dutta, 1995; <i>Echinobreviceca</i> Dronen, Blend & McEachran, 1994; <i>Paradiscogaster</i> Yamaguti, 1934; <i>Triganocryptus</i> Martin, 1958; and <i>Yamagutia</i> Srivistava, 1937 have a pretesticular ovary, but none of these genera contain species where the ovary is lobed. Based largely on the combination of the above characteristics, especially the definitely trilobed, pretesticular ovary and a bipartite seminal vesicle, we feel that <i>F</i>. <i>qikouensis</i> is most similar to species of <i>Baccigeroides.</i> Since no species assigned to <i>Baccigeroides</i> as currently diagnosed has a lobed pretesticular ovary, we propose the erection of <i>Gobifaustula</i> to support <i>Gobifaustula qikouensis</i> (Syn. <i>F</i>. <i>qikouensis</i>) (see fig. 26 of Qiu & Li 1995 in Shen & Qiu 1995).</p>Published as part of <i>Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T. & Bannai, Majid, 2021, Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926, pp. 231-253 in Zootaxa 5027 (2)</i> on page 242, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/5448290">http://zenodo.org/record/5448290</a>
Socio-Economic Impacts of Co-operative Societies: An Empirical Study
No full textSocio-Economic Impacts of Co-operative Societies: An Empirical Study Author / Authors :Md. Ruhul Amin and Mohammed Mahin Uddin Page no.179-193 Discipline : Applied Economics/ Management/ Commerce Script/language : English/Roman Category : Research paper Keywords: Co-operative, Development, Society, Constrains, Constitution, Comilla
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